Why am I not losing weight

135

Replies

  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    edited August 2017
    OP - there are health issues other than thyroid which can make weight loss difficult. If you have logged all your food accurately by WEIGHING everything - and I mean everything, no condiments, drinks, or little bites from other people's plates - and you really are eating 1200 calories a day, you should be losing weight. If you know you are doing this, and you are not getting results, demand that your doctor tell you what's going on.

    Several studies have found that obese people consistently underestimate the amount of food they eat (compared to people of normal weight) and that getting them to log is problematic because they tend to log incorrectly. So your doctor is probably assuming the same thing most people on this thread are assuming, that you really are eating far more and not being truthful about it. No one here can know whether you are being truthful or not - we can't reach through the internet and see whether you weigh your food. But you yourself know, and if you know you are only eating 1200 cal / day you need to demand answers, because something is not right. That is not enough calories for your weight, height, and activity level and you should be losing weight rapidly. That's why some people have said you are not eating enough. There are very few people of your size with medical issues which would cause them not to lose weight at 1200 day - if you are one of those people ask for a referral to a weight loss specialist who can measure your metabolism, and check for other problems.

    One other issue which can contribute to weight gain is Cushing's. Is your weight primarily concentrated around your belly?
  • stacey73casarez
    stacey73casarez Posts: 15 Member
    OP - there are health issues other than thyroid which can make weight loss difficult. If you have logged all your food accurately by WEIGHING everything - and I mean everything, no condiments, drinks, or little bites from other people's plates - and you really are eating 1200 calories a day, you should be losing weight. If you know you are doing this, and you are not getting results, demand that your doctor tell you what's going on.

    Several studies have found that obese people consistently underestimate the amount of food they eat (compared to people of normal weight) and that getting them to log is problematic because they tend to log incorrectly. So your doctor is probably assuming the same thing most people on this thread are assuming, that you really are eating far more and not being truthful about it. No one here can know whether you are being truthful or not - we can't reach through the internet and see whether you weigh your food. But you yourself know, and if you know you are only eating 1200 cal / day you need to demand answers, because something is not right. That is not enough calories for your weight, height, and activity level and you should be losing weight rapidly. That's why some people have said you are not eating enough. There are very few people of your size with medical issues which would cause them not to lose weight at 1200 day - if you are one of those people ask for a referral to a weight loss specialist who can measure your metabolism, and check for other problems.

    One other issue which can contribute to weight gain is Cushing's. Is your weight primarily concentrated around your belly?

    Yes around my belly but I have also have had 3 c-section and don't know if that has a lot to do with it either
  • stacey73casarez
    stacey73casarez Posts: 15 Member
    Yes around my belly but I have also have had 3 c-section and don't know if that has a lot to do with it either

    Dear OP,

    Is there a reason you have not answered the question asked several times, are you weighing your food (in grams or oz, not using cups/measuring spoons/packet weights/serving sizes)? A lot of people are looking for a yes or no on this, because the answer to this question really changes the advice people will give you.

    Before I started weighing food in grams I thought I was accurately measuring. But it can be very surprising when you actually weigh it out, especially for calorie dense foods like rice, pasta, cheese, peanut butter... A lot of packets also do not contain the weight stated on the packaging, so you can't rely on that being accurate. If you don't already do this, it could be really helpful for you.

    So are you using a food weighing scale to weigh all solid foods?

    Actually I could not tell if people were seeing my posts or not first and then I seen that they were they kept asking me if have been measuring and weighing my food I have told them yes I have been measuring and weighing my food and I know how to weigh my food and measure my food because I had to because I was of diabetic when I was pregnant with my last child not that that matters but I also took me a minute to answer them back because I'm not always on the Community page and I couldn't tell if they were seen my replies
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Yes around my belly but I have also have had 3 c-section and don't know if that has a lot to do with it either

    Dear OP,

    Is there a reason you have not answered the question asked several times, are you weighing your food (in grams or oz, not using cups/measuring spoons/packet weights/serving sizes)? A lot of people are looking for a yes or no on this, because the answer to this question really changes the advice people will give you.

    Before I started weighing food in grams I thought I was accurately measuring. But it can be very surprising when you actually weigh it out, especially for calorie dense foods like rice, pasta, cheese, peanut butter... A lot of packets also do not contain the weight stated on the packaging, so you can't rely on that being accurate. If you don't already do this, it could be really helpful for you.

    So are you using a food weighing scale to weigh all solid foods?

    Actually I could not tell if people were seeing my posts or not first and then I seen that they were they kept asking me if have been measuring and weighing my food I have told them yes I have been measuring and weighing my food and I know how to weigh my food and measure my food because I had to because I was of diabetic when I was pregnant with my last child not that that matters but I also took me a minute to answer them back because I'm not always on the Community page and I couldn't tell if they were seen my replies

    Make a detailed log of every gram of everything that enters your body for one month, weighing every day, and logging all activity. Then take this to your doctor and make him look at it.

    This will solve two potential problems - if the issue is that you are not logging properly, this will make sure that you are; if you are logging properly and there is some other issue it will make your doctor more likely to treat you seriously if you have proof. And the third possibility is that you will lose weight during this month.

  • stacey73casarez
    stacey73casarez Posts: 15 Member
    Maxematics wrote: »
    Yes around my belly but I have also have had 3 c-section and don't know if that has a lot to do with it either

    Dear OP,

    Is there a reason you have not answered the question asked several times, are you weighing your food (in grams or oz, not using cups/measuring spoons/packet weights/serving sizes)? A lot of people are looking for a yes or no on this, because the answer to this question really changes the advice people will give you.

    Before I started weighing food in grams I thought I was accurately measuring. But it can be very surprising when you actually weigh it out, especially for calorie dense foods like rice, pasta, cheese, peanut butter... A lot of packets also do not contain the weight stated on the packaging, so you can't rely on that being accurate. If you don't already do this, it could be really helpful for you.

    So are you using a food weighing scale to weigh all solid foods?

    Actually I could not tell if people were seeing my posts or not first and then I seen that they were they kept asking me if have been measuring and weighing my food I have told them yes I have been measuring and weighing my food and I know how to weigh my food and measure my food because I had to because I was of diabetic when I was pregnant with my last child not that that matters but I also took me a minute to answer them back because I'm not always on the Community page and I couldn't tell if they were seen my replies

    Yet you still have not answered the units you're using when weighing your food. You were able to quote and respond to every aspect of the one post that told you what you wanted to hear but keep evading a question that's been asked multiple times even after quoting the poster.

    Okay ive repeted this a few time now yes EVERYTHING I measure and weigh is in cups measuring spoon oz solid on food scale and liquids in measuring spoon and cups depending on the liquid cheese in oz and nuts in 1/4 cups
  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,371 Member
    edited August 2017
    Any medical or medication issues that could be hindering weight loss?

    Edited to add: Oops I see thyroid issues has already been covered, pays to the read the whole thread before posting
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    Maxematics wrote: »
    Yes around my belly but I have also have had 3 c-section and don't know if that has a lot to do with it either

    Dear OP,

    Is there a reason you have not answered the question asked several times, are you weighing your food (in grams or oz, not using cups/measuring spoons/packet weights/serving sizes)? A lot of people are looking for a yes or no on this, because the answer to this question really changes the advice people will give you.

    Before I started weighing food in grams I thought I was accurately measuring. But it can be very surprising when you actually weigh it out, especially for calorie dense foods like rice, pasta, cheese, peanut butter... A lot of packets also do not contain the weight stated on the packaging, so you can't rely on that being accurate. If you don't already do this, it could be really helpful for you.

    So are you using a food weighing scale to weigh all solid foods?

    Actually I could not tell if people were seeing my posts or not first and then I seen that they were they kept asking me if have been measuring and weighing my food I have told them yes I have been measuring and weighing my food and I know how to weigh my food and measure my food because I had to because I was of diabetic when I was pregnant with my last child not that that matters but I also took me a minute to answer them back because I'm not always on the Community page and I couldn't tell if they were seen my replies

    Yet you still have not answered the units you're using when weighing your food. You were able to quote and respond to every aspect of the one post that told you what you wanted to hear but keep evading a question that's been asked multiple times even after quoting the poster.

    Okay ive repeted this a few time now yes EVERYTHING I measure and weigh is in cups measuring spoon oz solid on food scale and liquids in measuring spoon and cups depending on the liquid cheese in oz and nuts in 1/4 cups

    I'm quoting this because the last few replies seem to have missed it.

    My next thought aside from weighing all solids on your scale (as pointed out, those nuts could be throwing the numbers off) is that you are using correct entries. The database is largely user created and full of incorrect information. And I also wonder if you might be using generic entries for recipes, things like lasagne.

    It would be a lot easier to eliminate issues if you opened your diary.
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
    PixelPuff wrote: »
    Asibaris wrote: »
    I agree with few of the above. 1200 is waaaay too little. From my knowledge you need at least 1600 kcal to function properly, regardless of your height and weight.

    Err... I'm 5'2". And I'm small now (healthy weight). Your minimum to "function properly" is my maintenance if I'm actually being semi-active. If I went sedentary, my maintenance would be even less than that.

    Minimum recommended for women is 1200 calories, men is roughly 1500 calories.

    I may not be at my ideal weight yet, but at 5'2" my maintenance at "ideal" weight of 130lb is 1340 and that's if I laid in bed all day. At 155lb and ok I'm extremely active (like beyond any settings on here) my maintenance is around 2500-3000 Calories a day, I've been losing weight for almost 2 years now at an average of around 1lb/week and it's very rare that I'll eat below 2000 Calories.
  • PixelPuff
    PixelPuff Posts: 902 Member
    edited August 2017
    firef1y72 wrote: »
    PixelPuff wrote: »
    Asibaris wrote: »
    I agree with few of the above. 1200 is waaaay too little. From my knowledge you need at least 1600 kcal to function properly, regardless of your height and weight.

    Err... I'm 5'2". And I'm small now (healthy weight). Your minimum to "function properly" is my maintenance if I'm actually being semi-active. If I went sedentary, my maintenance would be even less than that.

    Minimum recommended for women is 1200 calories, men is roughly 1500 calories.

    I may not be at my ideal weight yet, but at 5'2" my maintenance at "ideal" weight of 130lb is 1340 and that's if I laid in bed all day. At 155lb and ok I'm extremely active (like beyond any settings on here) my maintenance is around 2500-3000 Calories a day, I've been losing weight for almost 2 years now at an average of around 1lb/week and it's very rare that I'll eat below 2000 Calories.

    I was specifically commenting on the 1600 calorie portion, not the 1200 portion, on TDEE. [Edit; To specify why I posted my reply, it was because the original user in their quote said regardless of height or weight, they said you need at least 1600kcal to even function properly. Not true.]

    Where do you get 1340 from, by the way, BMR?
  • annarotica
    annarotica Posts: 3 Member
    mrspett323 wrote: »
    1200 calories is the reason. You are under eating. You need to research TDEE VS BMR. BMR are the calories you need just for your body to lie in a coma. TDEE is calculated with exercise and the calories your body needs to sustain all of this. You calorie intake is way below what it needs to be. Up your intake and you will see a difference. I thought eat less and exercise more was key until my Trainer educated me. I gave it a try and it worked. Find a TDEE calculator and put your numbers in. Good luck!

    Help me understand the idea that she's not eating enough calories to lose weight. Weight loss is just calories in, calories out, right? If she's eating 1200 calories a day and burning that and more (much, much more it seems), where is the energy coming from if it's not coming from her fat stores? Shouldn't she definitely be losing weight?
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
    PixelPuff wrote: »
    firef1y72 wrote: »
    PixelPuff wrote: »
    Asibaris wrote: »
    I agree with few of the above. 1200 is waaaay too little. From my knowledge you need at least 1600 kcal to function properly, regardless of your height and weight.

    Err... I'm 5'2". And I'm small now (healthy weight). Your minimum to "function properly" is my maintenance if I'm actually being semi-active. If I went sedentary, my maintenance would be even less than that.

    Minimum recommended for women is 1200 calories, men is roughly 1500 calories.

    I may not be at my ideal weight yet, but at 5'2" my maintenance at "ideal" weight of 130lb is 1340 and that's if I laid in bed all day. At 155lb and ok I'm extremely active (like beyond any settings on here) my maintenance is around 2500-3000 Calories a day, I've been losing weight for almost 2 years now at an average of around 1lb/week and it's very rare that I'll eat below 2000 Calories.

    I was specifically commenting on the 1600 calorie portion, not the 1200 portion, on TDEE. [Edit; To specify why I posted my reply, it was because the original user in their quote said regardless of height or weight, they said you need at least 1600kcal to even function properly. Not true.]

    Where do you get 1340 from, by the way, BMR?

    From some calculator online. I had it in my head at the time rather than have a set deficit I'd eat at maintenance for the weight I wanted to be, and a calculator had it come out as 1340 plus activity Calories. Turns out that I'm currently not that bothered by weight loss and want to eat to fuel my activity which I enjoy. Weight loss is just a side effect now of those days when I don't have a chance of eating my maintenance Calories (a few days last week that was around 3500)

  • PixelPuff
    PixelPuff Posts: 902 Member
    edited August 2017
    firef1y72 wrote: »
    PixelPuff wrote: »
    firef1y72 wrote: »
    PixelPuff wrote: »
    Asibaris wrote: »
    I agree with few of the above. 1200 is waaaay too little. From my knowledge you need at least 1600 kcal to function properly, regardless of your height and weight.

    Err... I'm 5'2". And I'm small now (healthy weight). Your minimum to "function properly" is my maintenance if I'm actually being semi-active. If I went sedentary, my maintenance would be even less than that.

    Minimum recommended for women is 1200 calories, men is roughly 1500 calories.

    I may not be at my ideal weight yet, but at 5'2" my maintenance at "ideal" weight of 130lb is 1340 and that's if I laid in bed all day. At 155lb and ok I'm extremely active (like beyond any settings on here) my maintenance is around 2500-3000 Calories a day, I've been losing weight for almost 2 years now at an average of around 1lb/week and it's very rare that I'll eat below 2000 Calories.

    I was specifically commenting on the 1600 calorie portion, not the 1200 portion, on TDEE. [Edit; To specify why I posted my reply, it was because the original user in their quote said regardless of height or weight, they said you need at least 1600kcal to even function properly. Not true.]

    Where do you get 1340 from, by the way, BMR?

    From some calculator online. I had it in my head at the time rather than have a set deficit I'd eat at maintenance for the weight I wanted to be, and a calculator had it come out as 1340 plus activity Calories. Turns out that I'm currently not that bothered by weight loss and want to eat to fuel my activity which I enjoy. Weight loss is just a side effect now of those days when I don't have a chance of eating my maintenance Calories (a few days last week that was around 3500)

    Age does also factor into this, but 10/10 believing you chose one of the ones that underhits hard. Your maintenance wouldn't be that low (even at older ages, where metabolism starts to go down a bit), you should be good.

    Your age (peeked at profile), 5'3", 130lbs.

    Sedentary (desk job, sitting around all day) shows... 1450, 1390, 1450, 1450,
    Light Exercise 1660, 1513, 1690, 1662

    Same stats, but my age (26)...

    Sedentary; 1558, 1562, 1495, 1559,
    Light Exercise; 1786, 1822, 1625, 1786

    For anything asking how many workouts, how many minutes, I straight up put '0' for sake of testing this. I've entered no body fat percentages when asked (which also makes it more accurate). Sedentary is serious couch potato business. xD

    Edit:
    As a note, I googled random calculators, and use started going down the first page. I haven't checked any other sites in particular... I'm curious what MFP or LoseIt would come up with.
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